Marly 4 Posted June 6, 2013 HI! My husband usually posts on here but he had to run down to the office so I am posting. We are doing a few banners that need to be done tonight. They are our first ones. The graphics have air bubbles though and it looks terrible. Is there any way to fix it or do we have to start all over again? And let's say we pull the vinyl off and redo it...how do we not have air bubbles this time? We did not use the wet method and we do not have a huge squeegee, just regular sized. Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xpaperman 719 Posted June 6, 2013 I only do mine wet. Gives me time to squeegee all the bubbles out. Thats all I can add since I do it wet. I do smaller stuff dry but large banners, not me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jfought 120 Posted June 6, 2013 Banners one layer ata time Wet! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marly 4 Posted June 6, 2013 Okay, thank you! We will try it wet. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coaster36 327 Posted June 6, 2013 Never done a banner wet. Tape the banner down to the table and do the hinge method. Never had a bubble. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted June 6, 2013 has a lot to do with experience and practice to do it dry 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mabscotthandyman 1,410 Posted June 6, 2013 Did you clean very well? What vinyl ? What type app tape? All of these make a difference . I have applied wet and dry it should not matter which method you use Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted June 7, 2013 HI! My husband usually posts on here but he had to run down to the office so I am posting. We are doing a few banners that need to be done tonight. They are our first ones. The graphics have air bubbles though and it looks terrible. Is there any way to fix it or do we have to start all over again? And let's say we pull the vinyl off and redo it...how do we not have air bubbles this time? We did not use the wet method and we do not have a huge squeegee, just regular sized. Thanks! and that is why I don't sell products until I have gotten the technique down - I would rather turn down a job then to promise something I don't know if I can deliver on. How do you promise to deliver on time if you have never done it before and don't know what obsticles you will encounter? not trying to be harsh (I know it sounds it) but now you will be stressed trying to correct this in time and/or have a disappointed customer. I am sure if you remove the vinyl, clean real well with rubbing alcohol, and install wet you will make it - but I bet there will be some cussing tonight. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xpaperman 719 Posted June 7, 2013 and a huge learning curve. Good Luck :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BannerJohn 1,324 Posted June 7, 2013 I have done thousands of banners over the years...these days I do 95% dry.....but it took me a long time to get to that point. I would NEVER recommend a newbee do dry for a customer. When somebody is paying, you don't take chances. High gloss banner material is the worst for bubbles. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coaster36 327 Posted June 7, 2013 I dont know but I have way more trouble doing anything wet. I think I got the hinge method down pack and never practiced wet. I cant see why a banner would be any different than a window. Maybe the squeegee is bad? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coaster36 327 Posted June 7, 2013 and that is why I don't sell products until I have gotten the technique down - I would rather turn down a job then to promise something I don't know if I can deliver on. How do you promise to deliver on time if you have never done it before and don't know what obsticles you will encounter? not trying to be harsh (I know it sounds it) but now you will be stressed trying to correct this in time and/or have a disappointed customer. x100 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimnAng 56 Posted June 7, 2013 We did our first banner tonight- But, that being said, it was for ourselves, for the fish fry that we're having on Saturday. We thought it would be cool to make a banner to hang. Turned out pretty well, but we did it dry, and the largest word on the banner (of course) went on crooked- so we had to re-cut the word. I've never done a wet application, but I assume had we done it wet, we wouldn't have had to re-do it! We got lucky, and were bubble free... but still, our first banner attempt didn't go off without a hitch. Good luck getting it done and done well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BannerJohn 1,324 Posted June 7, 2013 I dont know but I have way more trouble doing anything wet. I think I got the hinge method down pack and never practiced wet. I cant see why a banner would be any different than a window. Maybe the squeegee is bad? It's all in the substrate....I have banner material that I can do dry with my eyes closed....and some that is almost impossible to do dry. After awhile, you get a sense of how the material is going to work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybyrd 3,770 Posted June 7, 2013 Bannerjohn, have you used the greenstar gloss banner? I got a roll in today but haven't even had time to open it yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BannerJohn 1,324 Posted June 7, 2013 Bannerjohn, have you used the greenstar gloss banner? I got a roll in today but haven't even had time to open it yet. not yet but I ordered a roll that I haven't opened yet. I'll let you know. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybyrd 3,770 Posted June 7, 2013 I just cut the last 3x6 off my old roll so I'm sure I'll get to try it in the next few days, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coaster36 327 Posted June 7, 2013 It's all in the substrate....I have banner material that I can do dry with my eyes closed....and some that is almost impossible to do dry. After awhile, you get a sense of how the material is going to work. Thank god my supplier has the good stuff then. Never a problem. Now my next banner will be a disaster. Cant wait... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marly 4 Posted June 7, 2013 Doing the banners wet helped so much! It was an extreme difference. I am not sure what type of material we used, my husband is in charge of all that. As far as why we would do it without knowing how, well we have installed vinyl on tons of other things and never thought for a second that a banner would be difficult! Live and learn. Thanks for the help! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimnAng 56 Posted June 7, 2013 Very glad to hear that it worked out well with the wet application! I haven't tried any wet applications yet, but I think I will when I do this next order we have coming in. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted June 7, 2013 and now you have added another tool to your belt - next time will be easier Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybyrd 3,770 Posted June 8, 2013 not yet but I ordered a roll that I haven't opened yet. I'll let you know. Just cracked it open for a 3x6 and it seems fine. Good high gloss finish especially since I just killed off a roll of mat I got on clearance. I'll never use mat again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stickeysand 13 Posted June 15, 2013 When you say "wet" what exactly are you all using? A guy in town uses Windex. I apply dry but make sure I rub the transfer tape and vinyl really well before I stick anything. Sometimes I get tiny tiny bubbles but very rarely. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SeeJaysPlace 476 Posted June 15, 2013 Yes.. what exactly is this wet method ? i have done everything dry.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted June 15, 2013 When you say "wet" what exactly are you all using? A guy in town uses Windex. I apply dry but make sure I rub the transfer tape and vinyl really well before I stick anything. Sometimes I get tiny tiny bubbles but very rarely. use water with a few drops of baby shampoo and some rubbing alcohol if you don't want to buy rapidtac. Never ever use windex the amonia attacks the adhesive on the vinyl, sure path to failure of the product. You can only hope the other guy keeps using it - you will get more work down the road Share this post Link to post Share on other sites